Stacker



Aug- 2, 1932- A. L. wAsHBURNE 1,870,207

STACKER v Filed Nov. 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l .nfl

ATTORN EYJ Aug- 2 1932 A. L. wAsHBURNE 1,870,207

STACKER Filed Nov. 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y INVENTOR fR THUR L WnsHBl/R/vf WMM/ML Aug. 2, 1932. A. 1 wAsHBURNE 1,870,207

STAGKER I Filed Nov. 14. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 2, 1932 PAT ENT ECE ARTH'UBL. VASHZBU'BJNE, OFI LOS-ANGELES, CALIFORNIA STACKER Application, filed November 14, 1931.v Serial No. 574,951.

This invention relates to a device for stacking packages in a pile ready to be transferred toa hand truck.A It is adapted to form a part of a conveyor system for packages, as

for illustration, crates carrying bottles. ln the device disclosed herein, the packages are positioned in a horizontal row in close formation and the row of 'packages then tilted to vertical position and deposited upon a car- '.-lo rier for removal. A specific use to which' the inventionmay be put is that of stacking crates7 each'crate housing a demijohn or large bottle of water. It'will he understood that the references to such use as hereinafter rset :o forth is not intended as a limitation of the invention'.

The `olojects of this invention are to provide a stacker having any orallof the following features: a chute whichmay be swung or tilted from a horizontal to. a vertical position; an end gate for the chiite movable in vertical position of the chute to release a stack of packages; means to control tilting of the chute and to coordinate therewithk opera- 25 tion of the gate; and a chute as described forming the end of a conveyor line.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the stacker showing a fragment of a deliveryconveyor and a. fragment of a take-away conveyor;

53 Fig.; 2 is anend view of the stacker; Fig.

3 is a plan view of thestaclrer withv afragment of the delivery conveyor; Fig. 4E is a section of the stacker'and'fragments of the delivery and take-away conveyor with the stacker in discharge position; Fig. 5 isa view of the stacker as seen looking in the direction ofthe arrows 5 5 in Fig. lshowing the package holding device in release position; and Fig.' 6 is an end view ofthe delivery conveyor as seen loo ring in thedireci'ion of the arrowsl -of Fig. 3Q

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A indicates a delivery conveyor of the rollerway type; At the endV thereof a stacker B comprising a rolierway section mounted to he alined with the delivery conveyor and tiltalcle to vertical unloading position. A conveyor C of the carrying chain type to take away piles of packagesunloaded "fl `bythe stacker B is disposed atthe far end of tand belowrthe horizontal level thereof. Operating means for the stacker is denoted loyA D: The conveyors A and C may loe. of conventionaltypes. The specific structurev shown is intended for handling two rows of V55 crates side by side with six crates in a row on the stacker.

The stacker B comprises a chutev frame having side walls 10, anintermediate wall..- 11'anda hoor formedhy idler rollers 12 60 pivotally supported on; sills 13. The. sills licarry bearing blocks 14 in which; trunnions 15a and v15b arejournalled. The trunnions are fixed to the chute frame interme diate the ends and in such yposition that when 65 the frame is in unloading position as shown in Fig. 1 the far end of the chute frame is substantially flush with the upper run of conveyor C. Trunnion 15b overhangs itsf bearing 14 and has fixed thereto a segmen- 70 tal gearV 16. Meshing with' gear: 16 is a pinion `gear 17 fixed toa shaft 18 extending transverse ofthe sills and o-urnalled in vloearing blocks thereon. At the other end of shaft 18 is an eccentric gear 19 meshing with 75 an eccentric gear 2O fixed to a shaft 21. The shaft 21 is journalled on the sills and is parallel to shaft 18. Fixed to the other end ofshaft 21 is agear 22. A slipper23 is; mounted on a side of a sill 13 and slidably 80 mounted therein is a rack 2l1'meshing with gear 22 so that reciprocatio-n of the rack will turn gear 22 and through the. intermediate gears cause tilting ofthe `chute frame. With= the rack in its lower position as shown in 85 Fig. 17 the chute frame is substantially horizontal with a slight incline downwardlytoward the far end so that the crates will "tend to traveLby gravity toward the far end, Raclr'24 is mounted upon the rOd 25` of a hydraulic douhle acting jack having avcylinder 26-with conduits 27 and 28 connected to the end. A valve 29 of the rotary plug type has an inlet conduit 30 for supply of pressure fluid and an exhaust conduit 31, so that by turning the valve ashy a handle 32 the ends of the cylinder 26 may he alternately connected to the exhaust and inlet raising and lowering of rack 24 controlled. The eccentric gears provide-fora 1 .pivotal mounting of the lever 41.

slow initial and final speed in the tilting of the stacker frame. Thus, the stacker frame may be manually cont-rolled to move it from loading position shown in Fig. 1

. to unloading position shown in Fig. 4.

On the fra-me of conveyor A is a gate 33 comprising plates 33a upstanding from a web 34. To the web is affixed a stem 35 slidably guided in ways on the chute frame of conveyor A. A compression spring 36 tends to hold the gate in upper or closed position obstructing movement oi crates from the conveyor A to the stacker B. The web 34 projects so as to be engaged by a` cross member 37 on the chute frame of stacker B. In loading position of the stacker, cross member 37 rests on web 34 and holds the gate plates 33a down and out of the way of crates allowing them to pass. In unloading position spring 36 maintains the gate in upper or closed position preventing passage of crates. y

During tilting of the stacker from loading to unloading positions, the crates must be held in the stacker frame. To this end, I have provided crate holding means. Paralleling the sides of the stacker chute frame and journalled thereon are rocker lshaft 38 havin 7 arms 39 xedly secured thereto and extending downwardly. Connecting the lower ends of arms 39 is a toggle 40 and connected to the knuckle of the toggle is an actuating lever bar 4l. A bracket 42 serves for l At the tar end of the stacker chute frame and secured to shafts 38 are arms 43,*having fingers 43a for projection across the unloading end of the frame. With the toggle in knuckle out position the arms 43 are disposed with fingers 43a retracted to release crates and in knuckle in position the fingers are in protracted or holding position. In the operation of the vstacker the fingers should'be protracted when loading, protracted when tilting, and retracted when unloading. The bar 41fcontrols the Lposition of the fingers. In loading position,

the bar 41 is disposed with the knuckle of the toggle in as shown in Fig. l. The bar 41 remains in this position while the stacker is beingr tilted. lVhen. the stacker approaches its final unloading position, the end of bar 41 engages an abutment comprising adjustable pin 44 mounted on an abutment bracket 45. Abutment pin 46' serves to limit the swinging of the stacker frame. In full unloading po'sitionrthe end of bar 41 engages pin 4 4 swinging the bar to position the knuckle of toggle 40 out with the arms 43 disposed so that fingers 43a arev retracted and the stacker load is released.

Assuming the stacker -is in loading position as shown in Fig. l, the crates pass from the conveyor A on'the stacker B being arrested from passage over the end by arms 43. When a load of 12 kcrates have moved upon the stacker, the valve 29 is operated to raise rack 24. This causes the stacker frame to tilt slowly at first `and then increasing in speed. During `the initial movement of the stacker the gate 33 is released and closes due to the action of sprin 36. This stops all movement of crates o the conveyor A. The speed of' movement of the stacker increases and toward its final position decreases. As the stacker reaches unloading position shown in Fig. 4, bar 41 is engaged by abutment pin 44 and the arms 43 are swung to release the two piles of crates which then rest on conveyor C and are taken away. The valve 29 is then moved so that the rack 24 is lowered and the stacker restored to loading position,

bar 41 moving arms 43 to protracted position with fingers 43a arresting movement of the crates off the stacker chute frame. Conveyor C moves the piles of crates slowly so that a hand truck may be manipulated to dispose its nose under a pile or pair of piles and the crates carted away.

What I claim is 1. A'stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising yin combinationan open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to eiect a loading position in aline- 'ment with the delivery conveyor or an up- .tilting to effect a loading position in alinevment with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, intermediate eccentric gears to effect'a slow tilting movement at the ends of the swing of said frame; means to selectively drive said set of gears in either direction: package holding means including rocker arms for swinging to and from each other transversely of said frame at its far end, and means to swing said rocker arms.

3. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to effect a loading position in alinement with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, intermediate eccentric gears to effect a slow tilting movement at the ends of the swing ofsaid frame; means to selectively drive said set of'gears in either direction:

a gate urged into elevated position obstructing passage of packages from said conveyor onto said frame, means operated by said frame in loading positionA to hold said gate depressed package holding means including` rocker arms for swinging to and fr otherftransversely of said frame at its la; end, and means to swing'said r cker is.

4i. stacker adapted for operation i.vith a delivery conveyor for packages compris.'y inv combination an open ended chute fr pi'v-otally mounted intermediate` its ends tilting to effect a loading position in elinement with the delivery conveyor right unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a ing gear, intermediate eccentric gears to effect a slow tilting movement at the ends of the swing of said frame; means to selectively drive said set of gears in either direction: package holding means including rocker arms for swinging to and from each other transversely of said frame at its far end, said rocker arms having fingers to bel projected into the chute way or to be protracted therefrom, operating arms on said hafts, means to swing said rocker arms including an operating member, and a stationary abutment to be engaged by said member at unloadingl position of said frame thereby causing sind rocker arms to be moved to retracted position. e

5.. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute f'- irame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting ,to elfect a loading position in alinement with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a oriving gear, intermediate eccentric gears to effect a slow tilting movement at the ends of. the swing of said frame; means to selectively drive said set of gears in either direction.: a gate urged into elevated position. obstructing passage of packages from said conveyor onto said frame, means operated by said frame in loading position to hold said gate depressed: package holding means including rocker arms for swing t and from each other transversely of saA at its. far end, said rocker arms having iingers to be projected into the chute way or to be protracted therefrom, operating arms on said shafts, means to swing said rocker arms including an operating member, and a stationary abutment to be engaged by said member at unloading position of said frame thereby causing said rocker arms to be moved to retracted position.

6. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute frame pivotallyv mounted intermediate its ends for tiltingrto eect a loading position in alinement with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, intermedia-te eccentric gears to effect a slow tilting movement at the ends of the swing of said frame; means to selectively drive said set of gears in either direction package holding means including rocker arms for swinging to and from eachother transversely of said frame at its far end, rocker shafts extending along the sides of said frame and to which said rocker arms are secured, said rocker arms having fingers to be projected into the chute way or to be protracted therefrom, operating arms on said shafts, a toggle oint connecting said operating arms, a lever bar extending longitudinally of said frame and connected at one end to the knuckle of said joint, said lever bar being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame, a stationary abutment for engagement by the free end of said bar at unloading position of said frame whereby to swing said bar and move said knuckle toward collapsing position of said joint and thereby cause said rocker arms to be moved to retracted position.

't'. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to elfect a loading position in alinement with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, intermediate eccentric gears to eifect a slow tilting movement at the ends of the swing of said frame; means to selectively drive said set of gears in either direction: a gate urged into elevated position obstructing passa-ge of package from said conveyor onto said frame, means operated by said frame in loading position to hold said gate depressed: package holding means including` rocker arms for swinging to and from each other transifersely of i frame at its far end, rocker shafts extending along the sides of said frame and to which said rocker arms are secured, said rocker arms having lingers to be projected into the chute way or to be protracted therefrom, operating arms on said shafts, a toggle joint connecting said operating arms, a. lever bar extending longitudinally of said frame and connected at one end to the knuckle. of said joint, said lever bar being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame7 a stationary abutment for engagement by the free end of said bar unloading position of said frame whereby to swing said bar and move said knuckle toward collapsing position of said joint and thereby cause said rocker arms to be moved to retracted posit-ion.

8. .fr stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for pactages comprising in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to effect a loading position in alinement with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, intermediate eccentric gears to effect a slow tilting movement at the ends of the swing of said frame, and a reciprocable rack meshing with said driving gear; a double acting fluid actuated jack to move said rack, a manually controllable valve to control actuating fluid for said jack and to selectively move said rack in either direction.

9. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute fra-me pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to effect a loading position in alinement with the deliveryT conveyor or an upright unloading position; means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, intermediate eccentric gears to effect a slow tilting movement at thev ends of the swing of said frame, and a reciprocable rack meshing with said driving gear; a double acting fluid actuated jack to move said rack, a manually controllable valve to control actuating fluid for said jack and to selectively move said rack in either direction: and package holding mea-ns including rocker arms for. swinging to and from. each other transversely of said frame at its far end, and means to swing said rocker arms.

10. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to effect a loading position in alineme'nt with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, intermediate eccentric gears to effeet a slow tilting movement at the ends of the swing of said frame, and a reciprocable rack meshing with said driving gear a double acting fluid actuated ack to move said rack, a manually controllable valve to control actuating fluid for said jack and to selectively move said rack in either direction: a gate urged into elevated Aposition obstructing passage of packages from said conveyor onto said frame, means operated by said frame in loading position to hold said gate depressed package holding means including rocker arms for swinging to and from each other transversely of said frame at its far end, and means to swing said rocker arms.

1l. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to effect a loading position in alinement with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, and a reciprocable rack meshing with said driving gear; a double acting fluid actuated jack to move said rack, a manually controllable valve to control actuating fluid for said jack and to selectively move said rack in either direction; package holding means including rocker arms for swinging to and from each other transversely of said frame at its far end, said rocker arms having fingers to be projected into the chute way or to be protracted therefrom, means to swing said rocker arms including an operating member, and a stationary abutment to be engaged by said member at unloading position of said frame thereby causing said rocker arms to be moved to vretracted position.

l2. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising `in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to effect a loading position in alinement with the delivery conveyor or an u right unloading position: means to tilt sald frame including a set of gears having a driving gear and a reciprocable rack meshing with said driving gear; a double acting fluid actuated jack to move said rack, a manually controllable valve to control actuating fluid for said jack and to selectively move said rack in either direction; a gate urged into elevated position obstructing passage of packages from said conveyor onto said frame, means operated by said frame in loading position of said frame to hold said gate depressed; package holding means including rocker arms for swinging to and from each other transversely of said frame at its far end, said rocker arms having fingers to be projected into the chute way or to be protracted therefrom, means to swing said rocker arms including an operating member, and a stationary abutment to be engaged by said member at unloading position of said frame thereby causing said rocker arms to be moved tok retracted position. y

13. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to effect a loading position in alinement with the delivery conveyor or an u right unloading position: means to tilt sald frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, intermediate eccentric gears to effeet a slow tilting movement at the ends of the swing of said frame and a reciprocable rack meshing with said driving gear; a double acting fluid actuated jack to move said rack, a manually controllable valve to control actuating fluid for said jack and to selectively move said rack in either direction: package holding means including rocker arms for swinging to and from each other transversely of said frame at its far end, said rocker' arms having fingers to be projected into-'they chute' way or' to be protracted there-k from,.means1toswing said rocker arms including-an operating member, and a station- 5-.aryfabutment tobe'engaged by's'aid member at :unloading lposition of said frame whereby to-lcausesaid rocker arms to be moved toretracted:position i4.- Ai Vstacker adapted for operation with lfa delivery conveyor for packagescomprising i in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its en-ds for tilting 'to'eiiect a loading position 'a alinement with the delivery conveyor or an up- \right unloading: position: means to tilt said rameincludinga setof gears having a driving'geafr,intermediate' eccentric gears to effeet a-slow tilting `movement at the ends of the.' swing of said frame and a reciprocable grackmeshing with said-'driving gear; a doubleacting iiuid actuated jack to move said raclnza manually controllable valve to control acts ating fluidl for said jack and to selectively move said rack in either direction.: a gate rjurged into elevated position obstructing passage of packages from said conveyor onto said trame, means operated by said frame in loading position of said frame to hold said gate depressed: package holding means in- *fgcluding rocker arms lfor swinging to and from each other transversely of said frame at its far-end,- said rocker arms having fingers to be projected into the chute way or to be protracted therefrom, means to swing said rocker arms including' an operating member, and a stationary abutment to be engaged by said member at unloading position of said :trame whereby causing said rocker arms to be moved to retracted position. A 15:. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor forpackages comprising in combination an open ended chute trame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to'eliect a loading position in alinek mentwith the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said trame including aset ofigears having a drivinggear, intermediate eccentric gears to effeet a 'slow tilting movement at the ends oi the swing of said frame yand a reciproca-ble rack meshing with said driving gear; a double acting. fluid actuatedjack to move said rack, la manually controllable valve to' control actuating fluid for said jack and to selectively vmove said rack in either direction: package yholding means including rocker arms for swinging to and from each other transversely of said Viframeat its far end, said rocker arms having ngers to be projected into the chute way or to be protracted therefrom, means to swing said rocker arm including a lever bar extending longitudinally of said frame, said lever bar being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame, C5 a stationary abutment for engagement by the free end of said bar at unloading position of said frame whereby to swing ysaid bar and cause said rocker arms toy be moved to retracted position.

16. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute trame: pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to edect a loadingposition in aline-ment with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading' position: means to tilty said frame including a set oi gears having a driving gear, intermediate eccentric gears to effect a slow tiltin movement at the ends oi the swing ot said trame anda reciprocable rack meshing with said driving gear, a. double acting Huid actuated jack to move said rack, a manually controllable valve to control actuating iiuid for said jack and to selectively move said rack in either direction: a gate urged into elevated position obstruct-A ing passage of packages from said conveyor ontosai'd frame, means operated by said frame in loading position of said trame to hold said gate depressed :package holdingmeansincluding rocker' arms for swinging to and from each other transversely of said frame at its far end, said rocker arms having `fingers to be projected into the chute way or to be protracted therefrom, means to swing said rocker rarms including a lever bar extending longitudinally of said trame', said lever bar being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame, a stationary abutment for engagement by the free end of said bar at unloading position of said frame whereby to swing said bar and cause said rocker arms to be moved to retracted position.

17. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute framev pivotally `mounted intermediate its ends for `tilting Vto eiiect a loading position in alinement with the' delivery conveyor `or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame; ya double acting iuid actuated jack `to operate said means, a manually controllable valve to control actuating fluid for said jack and to selectively operate said means to tilt said frame in either direction: package holding means including rocker arms for rswinging to and from each other transversely of said trame at its tar end, rocker shafts 'extending along the sides of said fram-e and to which said rocker arms are secured, said rocker arms having lingers to be projected into the chute way or to be protracted therefrom, operating arms on said shafts, a toggle joint connecting said operating arms, alever bar extending longitudinally of said frame and connected at one end to the knuckle-ot said joint, said leverv for engagement by the free end ofi said barl VEl() at unloadingposition of said frame whereby to swing said bar and move said. knuckle toward collapsing position of said joint and thereby cause said rocker arms to be moved vto retracted position.

18. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages compris` ing in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its l ends fortilting to eect a loading position ing passage of packages from said conveyor onto said frame, means operated by said frame in loading position of said frame to hold said gate depressed: package holding means including rocker arms for swinging to and from each other transversely of said frame at its far end, rocker shafts extending along the sides of said frame and to which said rocker arms are secured, said rocker arms having fingers to be projected into the `chute way or to be protracted therefrom,

"fl operating arms on said shafts, a toggle joint connecting said operating arms, a lever bar extending longitudinally of said frame and connected at one end to the knuckle of said joint, said lever bar being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame, a stationary abutment for engagement by the free end of said bar at unloading position of said frame whereby to swing said bar and move said knuckle toward collapsing position of said joint and thereby cause said rocker arms to be moved to retracted position.

19. A stacker adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its endsfor tilting to effect a loading position in alinement with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, and a reciprocable rack meshing with said driving gear; a double acting fiuidy actuated jack to move said rack, a manually controllable valve to control actuating fluid for said `jack and to selectively move said "f rack in either direction; a gate urged into elevated position obstructing passage of packages from said conveyor lonto said frame, means operated by said frame in loading position to hold said gate depressed: package holding means including rocker yarms for swinging to and from each other transversely of said frame at its far end, rocker shafts extending alongthe sides of said frame and to which said rocker arms are secured, .said rocker arms having fingers to beprojected into the chuteway orto protracted therefrom, operating arms on said shafts, a togglejoint' connecting said operat Y ing arms, a lever bar .extending longitudinally of said frame and connected at one end to the knuckle of said joint, said lever bar j being pivotally mounted intermediate its 20. A stacker'adapted for operation with a delivery conveyor for packages comprising,

in combination an open ended chute frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for tilting to effect a loading position in `alliiement with the delivery conveyor or an upright unloading position: means to tilt said frame including a set of gears having a driving gear, intermediate eccentric gears tol effect a slow tilting movement at ythe ends of the swing of said frame, anda reciprocable rack meshing with said driving gear; a double acting fluid actuated jack to move Said rack, a manually controllable valve to control actuating fluid for said jack and to selectively move said rack .in either direction: a gate urged into elevated position obstructing passage of packages from said conveyor onto said frame, means operatedV by said frame in loading position to hold said te depressed: package holding means inclu in rocker arms for swinging to and from eac other transversely of said frame at its far end, rocker shafts extending along the sides of said frame and to which said iocker arms are secured, said rocker arms having fingers to be projected into the chute Way or to be protracted therefrom, operating arms on said shafts, a toggle joint connecting said operating arms, a lever bar extending longitudinally of said frame and connected at one end to the knuckle of said joint, said lever bar being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said frame, a stationary abutment for engagementr by the free end of said bar at unloading position of saidr frame whereby to swing said bar and movey saidknuckle `toward collapsing position of said joint and thereby cause said rocker arms to be moved to retracted position.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of June, 1931.

ARTHUR L. WASHBURNE.

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